Prosecutors: Man Admitted He 'Smacked,' Bit Slain Toddler
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 23-year-old South Side man was ordered held without bond Tuesday for allegedly beating his girlfriend's toddler to death over the weekend, the Sun-Times is reporting.
Devell Johnson admitted to police that he bit 2-year-old Armaney Cotton, and "smacked" her on her butt and back while he was watching her in his basement Saturday in the 5500 block of South Emerald, Cook County prosecutors said.
Armaney suffered bruising to her face and head; bite marks on her lower back; bruising to her left arm and chest; extensive internal bleeding; multiple lacerations to her liver; bleeding to the right kidney and subdural hematoma, prosecutors said.
At around 2 p.m. Saturday, Armaney's mom called to check up on her but Johnson just said she was OK and didn't want to talk, assistant state's attorney Nyshana Sumner said.
Johnson later told other family members — who were unaware the baby was in the home — that she hit her head, Sumner said.
Johnson then went downstairs and came back with the unresponsive baby around 4 p.m., Sumner said. Johnson called his mother and stepfather, who called 911, Sumner said.
Johnson has a pending aggravated unlawful use of a weapon charge pending in Skokie. He also has a 2011 misdemeanor unlawful use of a weapon conviction.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
